KOTA KINABALU: A fire in Sabah’s east coast Tawau district has left fifteen families with only the clothes on their backs as their houses were razed.
The incident occurred at approximately 8.10am on Thursday (Aug 3), resulting in the destruction of four houses, including two rumah kongsi at Kampung Tanjung Batu Tengah.
However, the firemen faced challenges in putting out the flames due to the absence of a fire hydrant and the close proximity of the houses to each other.
“We also had trouble coming into the area due to the narrow road,” commented Tawau Fire and Rescue Station chief Jemishin Ujin.
As a result, they had to utilize water from a nearby drain to extinguish the fire.
Upon receiving the alert at 8.13am, 18 firefighters were dispatched to the location.
Despite the obstacles, Jemishin stated that they managed to control the fire and prevented it from spreading to neighboring houses.
While the extent of the damage is still being assessed, initial observations indicate that two houses, including a two-storey structure, and two rumah kongsi with a total of 12 rooms were destroyed.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation,” Jemishin said. He added that the operation concluded at 11.24am after ensuring there were no further risks.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
